Savage11

I spent 3.5 hours today at my force. I made J hooks, welded up a smooth jaw wrench for twisting, and made side shields for my outdoor forge. So far I have 21.5 hours under my belt blacksmithing. I'm really loving forging a lot. Just wish I could do it everyday.

Those skulls are very cool, they look like Azteca, or Mayan. Nice work!

Solid state welding reminds me of explosion welding where ferrous and non-farrous metals can be joined at the molecular level.

Sorry to hear about your burnt thumb. Ive been burnt lots of times welding, but I couldnt imagine getting burnt by glowing red steel. The thought of it kinda freaks me out. Hope for a speedy recovery!!

CTG, I agree with you 100%. Although welding galvanized metal in the sheet metal industry is a common practice, it shouldn't be done without all the latest safety equipment, but that isnt the real world. I see a lot of young adults who want to become welders and fabricators, but they dont have a clue what they are putting their bodies through. There is a reason why our life expectancy is 6.5 years after retirement on average. It is what it is I guess.

"Welding galvanized metal" I and many others in my trade mig weld galvanized metal all the time. Its part of being a sheet metal worker. We try our best to ventilate the working area such as opening a bay door or utilizing a fan for fresh air. Workers have gotten sick from it. Will experience the shakes, nausea, and maybe a headache. Most of the time a glass of milk will cure it. Welding galvanized metal is a common practice more so than what peoole would think.

Make sure all your shielding gas connections are leak free. You can check with soapy water. I would not use a gas lense set up unless you or your friend are accomplished tig welders. Learn to tig correctly first. Gas lenses should enhance your work, not cover up crappy welds with bad techniques.

Welcome aboard, like you I'm a newbie with 14 total hours of forge time. Ive been keeping a log. Its very OCD of me I guess. Tons of information here to learn from.

I too am a subscriber. Its awesome watching you forge weld with no flux.

This thread has set my mind at easy. My second project ever was a triangle dinner bell. Bending the corners cold would have saved me a lot of time, but I was worried that doing so was some how cheating. I feel at ease knowing I can utilize metal fabrication techniques I use at work on a daily basis for my newbie blacksmithing needs. Now I can use my home shop equipment I built for more projects. Awesome thread OP!

Thank you sir, just wish I had more time to learn. Work and living in the sticks takes a ton of my time. That's life I guess.

My anvil is indeed old, but it has more talent than I.

Very interesting read, keep us posted. Thanks for posting those pictures, they gave me a few ideas to try. So far I have about eight hours of blacksmithing experience. Like you I made my own coal forge as well.

My fire dragon!

Thank you kindly sir much appreciated!!

That is a must read on my list. Should be available online I would think.

Wow, she is over 190 years old. That is a blow of the mind.

My anvil doesnt have a bathroom scale nor do I. Im not sure how the foot broke off. I can only assume it was dropped or wacked with a sledge/hammer or something. I think the history behind it is fasinating, wish the anvil could talk.

Ill most definitely post future pictures of her. I posted pictures of her and my DIY forge in the new member introduction section you are more than welcome to check out.

I have zero interest in doing anything to her other than working hot metal. I think its from the 1840s. I think she weights about 116 pounds its hard to read the numbers. Her rebound is fantastic. I pounded hot iron on her yesterday for the first time.

Its missing a foot on the other side. No major damage.

I picked up this tool a few months ago for free. I know its a crimper, but other than that I know nothing about it. I figured it would be a good conversation piece.

No, actually I have never heard of it before. Is it off 79N? Im a cheap xxx, I try to make everything from scrap or drop I've collected over the years at work. It would be worth checking into! I just looked them up, holycow they have a lot of stuff there. Thanks for mentioning them.

A while back I made a dishing stump with attachments from a worn out 300 oxygen bottle. Everything was salvaged for free from my employer. The planishing stake was a shot put I found at a garage sale for a dollar.

North East of Newark, Oh